Thursday, April 7, 2011
Good morning crew,
Here's an interesting tidbit you might not know. Our
venerable national anthem 'The Star-Spangled Banner' is
really a 250-year-old drinkin' song from England. They
knew how to rock it out back then.
The original version was called 'To Anacreon in Heaven'
and was usually sung by The Anacreontic Society of London.
It was sort of like their theme song.
What was The Anacreontic Society? It was a bunch of lawyers,
doctors and other well-to-do professionals who enjoyed music,
literature, poetry, and more importantly, boozin'. They named
themselves after the famous, ancient Greek poet Anacreon who
liked to write about women and boozin'. Go figure.
They would get together periodically, read each other poems
they had written and sing popular songs they all enjoyed and
drink themselves half insensible. Oh, and they did other
things as a society, like present concerts and operas.
Not surprisingly, this kind of club became popular, and so
did the theme song. It spread right across the Atlantic where,
as you can imagine in the much more rural colonies, it became
more about the boozin' and singin' than about organizing
concerts for the well-to-do.
50-some-odd years later Francis Scott Key was watching the
Brits bomb the hell out of Fort McHenry in Baltimore during
the War of 1812. He was so inspired by the fort's indomitable
defense that he wrote the poem 'Defense of Fort McHenry'.
Later, Key gave the poem to his brother-in-law who saw that
the words fit perfectly with melody of an oldie but goodie
that was still popular around the fledgling country, perhaps
hoping that because of its age nobody would remember that
the song was originally British. Thus was born 'The Star-
Spangled Banner'.
Think about that the next time you're singing it at a base-
ball game.
Laugh it up,
Joe
mailto:joe@gophercentral.com
P.S. We have a *NEW* archive page! You can read newsletters
from Clean Laffs to Bizarre News and dozens of titles in
between. Years worth of issues! Just check out the link at
the bottom of the page!
***
Only $2.51 for this heartwarming family classic. No DVD
collection is complete without 'Born Free'. OUR DEAL: 87% off!
http://pd.gophercentral.com/u/1103/c/186/a/505
***
"Miami was voted the worst road rage city. You have 20-year-
olds doing 95, and 95-year-olds doing 20, that's why."
-Craig Ferguson
***
"Scientists say they have located the gene that causes
obesity. Yeah. His name is Gene Millman and he invented
Krispy Kreme douighnuts." -Conan O'Brien
***
"Fox is adding several new Spanish-language shows to its
programming schedule to appeal to the growing Latino pop-
ulation. My favorite one is about that doctor with a cane
who plays by his own rules-?you know, 'Casa.'" -Jimmy Fallon
YOUR VIDEO SNACK BAR
Top Viewed Videos...
1. Creepy or Cool. You decide!
http://c.gophercentral.com/tquc
2. What a Wonderful World It Would Be
http://c.gophercentral.com/Vs03
3. Alfred Hitchcock Montage
http://c.gophercentral.com/xKfb
4. Charlie Sheen - Two and a Half Men
http://c.gophercentral.com/FEle
5. A Cat with A Drinking Problem?
http://c.gophercentral.com/pidK
6. Larry David vs. Vacuum Packaging Check out t
http://c.gophercentral.com/5XUq
Some of the best Norm Peterson quotes from "Cheers":
"What's shaking, Norm?"
"All four cheeks and a couple of chins."
"What's new, Normie?"
"Terrorists, Sam. They've taken over my stomach & they're
demanding beer."
"What'd you like, Normie?"
"A reason to live. Give me another beer."
"What'll you have, Normie?"
"Well, I'm in a gambling mood Sammy. I'll take a glass of
whatever comes out of the tap."
"Looks like beer, Norm."
"Call me Mister Lucky."
"Hey Norm, how's the world been treating you?"
"Like a baby treats a diaper."
"What's the story, Mr. Peterson?"
"The Bobsey Twins go to the brewery. Let's cut to the
happy ending."
"Hey Mr. Peterson, there's a cold one waiting for you."
"I know, if she calls, I'm not here."
"What's going on, Mr. Peterson?"
"A flashing sign in my gut that says, 'Insert beer here.'"
"Whatcha up to, Norm?"
"My ideal weight if I were eleven feet tall."
"How's it going, Mr. Peterson?"
"Poor."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"No, I mean pour."
"How's life treating you, Norm?"
"Like it caught me sleeping with its wife."
"Women. Can't live with 'em.... pass the beer nuts."
"What's going down, Normie?"
"My butt cheeks on that bar stool."
"Pour you a beer, Mr. Peterson?"
"Alright, but stop me at one....make that one-thirty."
"How's it going, Mr. Peterson?"
"It's a dog eat dog world, Woody and I'm wearing Milk Bone
underwear."
"What's the story, Norm?"
"Boy meets beer. Boy drinks beer. Boy meets another beer."
"Can I pour you a beer, Mr. Peterson?"
"A little early, isn't it, Woody?"
"For a beer?"
"No, for stupid questions."
*-------------- Guaranteed to Roll Your Eyes ---------------*
An archaeologist was digging in the Negev Desert in Israel
and came upon a casket containing a mummy, a rather rare
occurrence in Israel, to say the least.
After examining it, he called the curator of the Israel
museum in Jerusalem.
"I've just discovered a 3,000 year old mummy of a man who
died of heart failure!" the excited scientist exclaimed.
To which the curator replied, "Bring him in. We'll check it
out."
A week later, the amazed curator called the archaeologist.
"You were right about both the mummy's age and cause of
death. How in the world did you know?"
"Easy. There was a piece of paper in his hand that said,
'10,000 Shekels on Goliath.'"
____________________________________________________________
WHAT DID THE BUDDHIST SAY TO THE HOTDOG VENDOR?
Want to know the answer to this important question? Then you
need to get a copy of THE BEST OF CLEAN LAFFS! Order Joe's
laff diary for the new, reduced DEAL price of * $1.51 * plus
postage and handling.
Check it out: http://pd.gophercentral.com/u/2421/c/120/a/505
************************************************************